IPS 3521 

1255 
IU6 

|1915 

Copy 1 



tional Copyrighted (in England, her Colonies, and 
ates) Edition of the Works of the Best Authors 



No. 315 



ncle Sam's Daughters 



AND 



WHAT THEY HAVE DONE 



A Pictorial Fantasy in One Act and One Scene 



BY 



AUGUSTA RAYMOND KIDDER 



Copyright, 1915, Bv SAMUEL FRENCH, 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30 WEST 38th STREET 



London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 

26 Southampton Street 

STRAND 



Uncle Sam's Daughters 



WHAT THEY HAVE DONE 



A Pictorial Fantasy in One Act and One Scene 



BY 

AUGUSTA RAYMOND KIDDER 



Copyright, 1915, by SAMUEL FRENCH. 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

5i8-30 WEST 38th Street 



London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 

26 Southampton Street 

STRAND 



F53SZI 



/ 

©CI.D 42664 
m -6 1916 



UNCLE SAM'S DAUGHTERS, 



SPEAKING CHARACTERS. 

Uncle Sam. .Typical national dress, middle age, 

dry, humorous, decided 

Columbia Typical national dress, handsome 

woman 
Spokeswoman . .Fashionable evening garb of to- 
day, attractive and decisive in speech and 
manner 
First Herald 
Second Herald 

Boys, or slim young girls, in 
typical heralds' costumes 



uxcLE SA:>rs daughters. 



XOX-SPEAKIXG CHARACTERS. 

On Stage : — As many fashionably s^owned women 
in present day evening dress as m.ay be desired. 

IX TABLEAUX. 

Harriet Beecher Stowe ^.Ioll Pitcher 

Elizabeth Cady Staxtox . . . Susax B. Axthoxy 
Betsy Ross Barear.\ Fritchie 

FR-\XCES \ViLLARD POCOHOXTAS 

Axx Lee Tulia Ward Howe 

Belle Bo\T) ^Irs. Eddy 

Charlotte Cushimax Ida Lewis 

Eva UxcLE Tom 

MaTERXITY 2 IXDIAX !MeX 

IxFAXT 2 Small Childrex 

2 Coxfederate Soldiers. 

All carefully *' made up " and dressed to resemble 
the people they represent. x\uthentic pictures of 
them can be easily obtained almost anywhere. 

There should be a fev>^ bars of the m.usic, and a 
brief pause, before each tableaur 

Time: — Night. 
4 



Uncle Sam's Daughters. 



Scene : — Tlie National Hall of State. 

Handsome palace scene or a very simple room, 
as circumstances may zvarrant. Platform and 
chair c. for Uncle Sam, eagle perched at his 
hack, hat on his knee. Flags, national seal, etc., 
draped r. and l. Columbia stands at his r., 
carrying American flag on small gold staff. 
At back are long portieres hung r. and l., to 
drazc off and shon' the different tableaux behind 
them. Stage filled zcitJi fashionably dressed 
ZK:om.cn. 

As curtain rises, after martial music, tlie Two 
Heralds giz'e a flourish of trumpets. 

Uncle Sam. — 
Now girls speak quickly, I am pressed for time. 
You have a .grievance? Tell me vrhat it is! 

All The Women. — (Together) 
Vs^ell, it's like this ! We all 

Uncle Sa^.i. — (Beats table zcith gazrl) 
One at a time! Oh please. 
You'll make me deaf and in such days as these 
I need my hearing if I ez'cr did. 
Appoint a spokesman. 

All. — (Indignantly) 
Spokes;7za7?.^ 

Uncle Sam. — 
Spokeszvoman, I mean. 

{Wipes Jiis broz^' nervously.) 

All. — Poijit to Spoke.swo^sIan) 



6 UNCLE SAM'S DAUGHTERS. ; 

We select her, for sJie can talk. 

Uncle Sam. — 
Indeed! I thought all women could! But pray 
proceed. 

Columbia. — 

Sir, their complaint is this 

Your daughters here 

Say that you hold your sons as doubly dear. 

That your affection is for them more keen. 

Spokeswoman. — 
Precisely so. Exactly what we mean. 

Uncle Sam. — 
You puzzle me. I don't quite see your game. 

All. (Shout) 
We want to get into the Hall of Fame! 

Uncle Sam. — 
But some of you are there. 

Spokeswoman. — 
Oh very fezv. You men keep up the bars. You 
knozv you do. 

Uncle Sam. — 

Maria Mitchell's there — I'm very glad 

One of the best astronomers we had. 

And lots of other women too — So then 

There is no opposition from the men. 

The Hall can't open for a pretty face 

If you should all get in — you'd swamp the place. 

Spokeswoman. — 
Oh you are too old fashioned for to-day 
And just a little prejudiced, I say ! 

Uncle Sam. — 
That isn't so — but if it were — a man 
Can do more, surely — than a woman can ! 
Take history — he blazons it with glory. 

Spokeswoman. — 
And most of it is one sad shameful story. 
Pillage and rapine. Yes and murder too. 
Things that all womankind would scorn to do ! 

Uncle Sam. — (Puts on glasses) 



UNCLE sa:m's daughters. 

Why you're some piinklns — let me look at you. 

Spokeswoman. — 
Bluster and noise and shams that shame the air. 

{Points up.) 
Have never yet been registered up there. 

Uncle Sam. — (Nervously) 
I've got to have assistance here you bet. 

(To Herald, r.) 
Just send for Wilson and his Cabinet. 
(Herald bozvs and exits l.) 

Columbia. — 
Their plea's a worthy one, it seems to me 
Perhaps you have, sir, been inclined to be 
A trifle partial to the other sex, 
And such discrimination tends to vex 
j\[y worthy sisters. 

Spokeswoman. — (To her) 
You've the right idea. 
Considering the limits of our sphere 
We've done as much as men. 

Uncle Sam. — (Protests) 
Oh, come, my dear. 
Don't make such silly statements — be advised. 

Spokeswoman. — 
But our achievements don't get advertised. 

Uncle Sam. — (Drily) 
Oh I don't know — from just a cursory viezv 
The morning papers pretty full of you. 

(Enter Herald, l.) 

Herald. — (Salutes) 
The President's too busy, sir, to call, 
But he is for the women, one and all. 

(All the Women cheer.) 

Uncle Sam, — (Disgusted) 
That's pleasant. Yet the people say / rule 
I think I must be just a first old fool! 



8 UNCLE SAM'S DAUGHTERS. 

Well where's your proof? ] 

You girls will break my heart. 

I love you all — the stupid and the smart. 

Spokeswoman. — 
Look at our women's clubs, all sane and true, 
Gossip perhaps but worthier things they do. 

To all our sex they are as restful boons 

They're really clubs, not privileged saloons! 

Uncle Sam. — 
My dear you know too much, please call a halt. 
Men are convivial but it's not their fault. 
For women folk encourage them a lot. 

Columbia. — 
Speaking for average women, they do not! 

Think of the women leaders, we'll have more 

Of College Presidents we've three or four 
Of high officials fully twenty score. 
The workshop and the office hum with power 
Displayed by women toilers every hour. 

Uncle Sam. — {Wearily) 
I know all that, please cease — my head just whirls. 
My Treasury Department's packed with girls. 
If you have anything that's new, proceed, 
All the old facts I really do not need! 
What is your grievance ? 

Spokeswoman. — 
Well, sir, we have heard 
Men say we're their inferiors 

Uncle Sam. — 
That's absurd. 

Columbia. — 
If you are willing, sir, they'll show to you 
A sample of the things our sex can do. 

(As the zvomen on the stage drift to r. and l., leav- 
ing the c. open, something done by zvomen — 
a drill, a march, dancing, singing, can be in- 
troduced here if it is desired and zvorth zvhile. 
At its finish Uncle Sam applauds moderately.) 



UNCLE SAM'S DAUGHTERS. 9 

Uncle Sam. — 
That's very good indeed, but not convincing. 
I'm not from old Missouri, but I'd like 
To have more proofs of what your sex has done. 

Spokeswoman. — {V/aves her hand. Trumpets) 
She saved a life, then saved a State 
This daughter of a savage race 
She screened the whites from wars alarms 
And fair Virginia's best, can trace 
From Pocoliontas wondrous charms 

(Indian music. Tableau at r. : Pocohontas saving 
the life of Captain Smith.) 

Uncle Sam. — 
She was an Indian and that doesn't count. 

Columbia. — (Drily) 
The only real Americans we have! 

Uncle Sam. — 
By Jove that's so — you're just as quick as zvinking 
Let's see some more — You girls have set me think- 
ing. 

Columbia. — 
The window and the whitened hair 
The tumult — and the muskets aim 

Our starry banner floating there 

We do not need to speak the name. 
" Strike if you must this old gray head 
But spare your country's flag " she said. 
(Waves hand.) 

(Tableau l. Barbara Fritchie, zvaving American 
flag from windoiv, Confederate troops near. 
Music: '' The Red, White and Bluer) 

Uncle Sam. — 
Better and better — why it thrills me through __ 

But I'm not going, yet, to side with you. 
(Slyly.) 



lo UNCLE SA^^rS DAUGHTERS. ] 

No women Generals though. 

COLUAIBIA. — 

Not since the flood • 

Your average woman shrinks from shedding blood. 

{All applaud.) 
Almost the first to struggle for her sex 
Was brave Ann Lee the Shaker, and her name 
Should by her sisters be revered for aye. 

{Tableau l. : Ann Lee in her Shaker dress and 
bonnet. Music. " Long, long ago:") 

Uncle Sam. — {Drily) 
The Shakers are all right, of course, my dear, 
But through their lazvs they're bound to disappear. 
They give good measure and they're fine and 

straight 
Their Shaker apple sauce is something great. 
The women of the world 

Spokeswoman. — 
One moment pray ! 

I hold no brief for them 

What / may say, or show to you pictorially to-Qay — 
Refers to women of the U. S. A.! 

{Dramatically.) 

They say that Prohibition stirs the land. 
It is a woman's monument to-day ! 
The curse that falls on rich and poor 

The Demon Drink that doth endure 

The smiling " Fiend " who tempts and blights 

Through saddening days and maddening nights 

Should have proclaimed his holiday 
When Frances Willard passed away. 
{Waves hand.) 

{Tableau R.: Frances Willard. Music: "Old 
Oaken Bucket.'') 



UNCLE SAM'S DAUGHTERS. ii 

Uncle Sam. — 
But how about a war? Would woman /z^/z/f 

Columbia. — 
You try to take her cJiild away, and sec! 

We're here explGiiing woman kind 

Where War its havoc wrought 
]\Ioll Pitcher, when her husband fell 
Stood in his place and fought! 
Surely this fact was proven then 
That zvonien are as brave as mciu 

(Toblcaii L. : jNIoll Pitcher at the cannon. 
Musk: " Yankee Doodle/') 

Uncle S a m :— ( D rily ) 

They say no amason in Africa 

Was ever beaten in her battle yet. 
Spokeswoman. — 

But modern heroines did as noble work 

Through weary days 'mid insult and distress 

They sowed that we might reap, 

Behold them here! 

Two women blossom in our hearts 
Shoulder to shoulder did they stand 
They battled Greed and Power and Wrong 
This Old Guard of the Suffrage Band 
The Glorious outcome that they plan 
Stanton and Anthony began! 

{]\Irs. Stanton and AIiss Anthony. Music: 
'' Auld Acquaintance!') 

Uncle Sam. — 
Good women both — and when the match they laid 
They little reckoned what a fire they made! 

Columbia.— 
North, South, East, West, we welcome all of those 
Who filled our sex with pride when W^ar prevailed. 

Uncle Sam. — 



12 UNCLE SAM'S DAUGHTERS. 

Time is the healer of the wounds of zvar 
He dims the scars and makes us all at peace. 
Columbia. — 

To the Lost Cause^ 

She gave her all 

Through glory and through woe 

A daughter of the " Stars and Bars '^ 

A keen and daring foe. 

Her bravery was beyond 7i doubt. 

Belle Boyd, the great Confederate Scout 

Of fifty years ago. 

(Music: ''Dixie." Tableau r. : Belle Boyd, 
Confederate iinifonn, carrying Confederate 

flag.) 

Uncle vSam. — 
Oh, yes, indeed — they fought and bled and died. 
The martyrs as they suffered at the stake 
Held no more heroism than our zvomankmd. 

Spokeswoman. — 
'Tis Peace — not War — that our dear sex desires 
But if war comes, she robs it all she can 
Of gaunt and grisly horror! 

What Personality is this? 

The Dogs of War are still 

To serve upon the battlefieldf 

Yet not to maim or kill? 

See ! Clara Barton has unfurled 

Her Red Cross flag, and wins the world! 

(Tableau l. : Clara Barton, with Red Cross flag. 
Music: "" Tenting to-night.'') 

All the Women. — 
Now really sir, you ought to be convinced. 

Uncle Sam. — (Drily) 
I know I ought to be, but I'm the sort 
That likes to be cantankerous and fight. _j 



UNCLE SAM'S DAUGHTERS. 13 

The men are all like that — they hate to own 
"When women get the best of arguments. 

Just wait a while 

Tm stubborn and I'm old 

Maybe I'll soften when I see some more. 
My thoughts are drifting back to years ago. 
Our early days were proud of women too, 
Who helped create the land we now enjoy. 
Columbia. — 

The Pioneers of East and West 
In earlier days did daring deeds 
Privation seized men by the throat 

And Red-skinned danger sowed its seeds 

But by their sides their women stood 
And fought the fight of motherhood. 

{Simultaneous tableaux: r. and l. — The Pioneer 
Woman of the West at the plough zuith Child. 
The Pioneer IVoman of the East {Puritan) 
with child, standing zuith gun at zvindozv zvhile 
Indian lurks outside. Music.) 

Uncle Sam. — 
And still I think that woman's spot's the home. 

Spokeswoman. — 
One stayed at home, and almost shook the zvorld! 

Of stirring days a marvel she 

Who formed a mighty sect 

That reaches out from sea to sea 

With not a foeman zvrecked 

She did what man has seldom done 

She fought a bloodless fight and zi'on 

So Mary Baker Eddy reigns 

And more than memory remains. 

(Music. Tableau r. : Mrs. Eddy— '' The Lost 
Chord.'') 
Uncle Sam. — 
Yes Mrs. Eddy made her mark on Time 



14 UNCLE SAM'S DAUGHTERS. ' 

But do you claim all women as her peers ? 
Columbia. — 

We'll tr}' once more — you may be made to see, 
(Pause.) 
A Avonder worker of the pen, 
Revered ahls:e by age and youth 
She sought the cabin of the slave 
And Ht it with the torch of truth 
So Harriet Beecher Stowe will live 
While memory has a flower to give ! 

(Tableau l. : Mrs. Stowe zvith Eva and Uncle 
Tom. Music: " The Old Kentucky Home/') 

Spokeswoman. — 
Oh surely we have proved our case b}^ nozv^ 
See what we've done — created — been — and borne! 
Woman designed one thing we can't forget 

Brave men have fought behind our flag 

And to the w^orld displayed it. 

TheyVe sung its praises o'er and o'er 

But 'twas a zvoman made it. 

A woman with a simple name 

But Betsy Ross clasps hands with Fame ! 

(Tableau r. : Betsy Ross. Music: ''Rally 'round 
the flag," She sezL'S flag zvith thirteeii stars.) 

Uncle Sam. — 
Brave Betsy Ross — You girls have planned this zvell. 

My visitors can zvait 

I'm busy here. 

(To 2nd Herald.) 

Go tell my Secretary I'm engaged 

Upon a most important argument. 
Add " Place aux dames " — if he don't understand. 
I'll get a linguist who is up in French. 
(2nd Herald bozvs, exits r.) 
Perhaps there's more to see? 



UNCLE SAM'S DAUGHTERS. 15 

Columbia. — 
Yes ! there is more ! 
The hne is not depleted, but still grows 
It could stretch out unto the crack of doom. 

(Waves hand. Fanfare of trumpets.) 

A woman's power — a woman's art 

That moved the brain and thrilled the heart 

They set their imprint on the age 

When Charlotte Cushman ruled the stage ! 

And made Meg Merriles the rage! 

{Trumpets kept up. Tableau l. : Charlotte 
Cushman as ''Meg Merrilees.'') 

Uncle Sam. — 
Yes yes — I saw her play it years ago 
And I have never seen her equal since 
They cannot match her— not with all their pains 
Acting in those old days required some brains. 

{Re-enter 2nd Herald l.) 

Herald. — {Salutes) 

Your Secretary sir has told them that 

And sixteen office seekers went away 
Madder than hornets, while five senators 
And three ambassadors, are waiting still. 
The French diplomatist, he understood 
Your message — said he'd like to join you here. 

Uncle Sam. — 
Well I guess not — these are iny woman kind 
And all outsiders must remain, outside ! 
Go on, I'm getting interested, more! 

{To Columbia.) 

Columbia. — 



i6 UNCLE SAM'S DAUGHTERS. 

Our work lias equalled men's in many ways 
On land and sea our record will endure 
Full many a wife has sailed a ship to port 
When sickness beat her sturdy captain down 
Full many a woman has from Neptune torn 
His human prey amid the pounding surf. 

Our hearts go out to one 

Who lived amid the roar 

Of fast and furious storm.s 

That raged from shore to shore 

Who from her lighthouse viewed 

The liavcc cf the waves 

Where Ida Lewis saved 

Two score from watery graves ! 

{Tableau r. : Ida Lewis, carrying oars. Music: 
''Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep.'') 

They say we are inferior — Can they shov/ 

In all the ages past that this is so? 

The Law and Average Man have long maligned us 

When did we fail to do the work assigned us? 

Spokeswoman. — (To Uncle Sam) 
Equal responsibility with you 
With equal zvork and equal risk as well 
And then half pay! Oh, tell me if you can 
Would such a proposition suit a manf 

(Pause.) 
Another woman rich with years I see 
Whose contribution to her country's cause 
Kept Patriotism's fire from burning low. 

The Mind of Woman makes for Peace 

Save where there's Danger grim. 

Julia Ward Howe, stood for the right 

And her great Battle Hymn, 

Made many a weary heart, beat high. 

And many an eye grow dim! 

(Trumpets. Tableau l. : ]v\aa Ward Howe. 



UNCLK SAM'S DAUGHT]^:]^S. 17 

Musk: ''Battle Hymn of the Republic f') 

Columbia. — 
So many clamor at our gates to-night 
That Time can heed them not and they must Hve 
For us in name and bright on memory's page. 

Spokeswoman. — {Turning in appeal to Uncle 
Sam) 

Now arbiter I feel the cause is won 
And tardy justice shall be ours at last. 

Uncle Sam. — (Nods) 
I think you've zvon, but I am onhione. 

Columbia. — {Scornfully) 
The last I summon — and her eloquence 
Should shame you to a verdict for the Right. 

{Turns r.) 

Most marvellous embodiment of all 
Enshrin^a? glory of our woman kind 
The foremost Reason to our aid we call 
The mother — to the grandest task assigned 
Rocking the cradle that m.ay heroines hold 
Aiding each tender. nature to unfold, 
Why should she beg the v/orld her Place to give 
This wondrous world which SHE PERMITS 
TO LIVE? 

{Music: ''Lullaby." Maternity enters r., carry- 
ing a babe at her breast and leading a little child. 
She stands before Uncle Sam.) 

Uncle Sam. — 
What is your plea? 

Maternity. — ( Tensely ) 
I ask the right no more to live 
On worthless husks, but wholesome wheat. 
I ask the right to help create 
The pathvv'ays for my children's feet 



i8 UNCLE SAiM'S DAUGHTERS. 



Protect my sex in all your States 
Have equal laws and justice — then- 
You'll see the women of our land 



Shoulder to shoulder, with the men! ' 

Uncle Sam. — {Nervously) 

Well — I don't knozv 

Spokeswoman. — (Scornfully) 
Then our demand goes higher! 

(To audience,) 
It goes to you, the Court of Last Appeal! 

You who have watched us in our well planned 
race 



Give yoti the verdict 

Have we won our case? 

{Applause from all on stage.) 



{Trumpets. Uncle Sam rises. Tableau curtains 
are drawm aside shozving r. and l. all the 
characters that have appeared! TJiey come 
dozvn stage singing — music forte — "' The Star 
Spangled Banner " — in zvhich all join. All this 
action simultaneous.) 
simultaneous.) 

CURTAIN. 



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